Chapter 518: Clown Competition
Chapter 518: Clown Competition
A month later, shocking news spread all over the world and made many people go to the New World. Most of them are pirates, but there are people like bounty hunters, pro fighters, civilians, and even Marines are all going to the same place in the New World, the Clownland.
All of them are going there because of the news that Buggy spread. He was inviting everyone all over the world to compete and get the treasure of the Pirate King. Buggy makes a competition using Roger Pirates' ship, Oro Jackson as the prize.
He wanted to create an event bigger than anything ever happened so far. To make such an event, he needs a lot of people to join. He couldn't think of a good way to make so many people from all over the world to join his plan until he remembered what Doffy did in the series, a fight competition.
But he needed a reward that could make that many people interested. He was thinking of using mythical zoan devil fruits, but he realized it wouldn't be enough. Then he got the idea to use Oro Jackson which is even more precious than those mythical zoan devil fruits.
Such a prize obviously attracts so many people because it's the ship of Pirate King's crew. The ship was kept hidden by Gaban, and the Marines never found it. Buggy took it from Gaban after telling the old man his plan.
Gaban was against it at first because Buggy's plan is too crazy and they are staking their precious ship here. But Buggy finally managed to convince him. Gaban also gave in mainly because he knew that Buggy would take the ship by force if he kept refusing and he couldn't stop Buggy.
Buggy also told Rayleigh about his plan already to avoid angering the Dark King. But he doesn't tell his plan to Shanks at all because he wants Shanks to participate in the competition. It works well and now an angry Shanks is coming to Clownland with his crew.
Shanks is usually very chill with everything even when people mock him. But now he is angry at Buggy for using their precious ship as a game's reward. For Roger Pirates, Oro Jackson wasn't just a ship, but a precious companion, so Shanks doesn't like it being treated like this.
The news also reached Wano Country as it is an open nation now. Oden is puzzled by this and can't guess Buggy's intention at all even after thinking about it for a long time. Everyone else is also confused because they can't think of any benefit for Buggy by doing this.
But they know for sure that many people will come to get that ship. At the very least, the young pirates who are training here will go to join the competition. After all, it's the Pirate King's ship and one of them is Pirate King's only son.Though Ace doesn't have that much affection for his father, he doesn't hate Roger either, unlike how he was in the series because he grew up with his mom even if it's only for a few years. He often heard stories about his father from his mother that the world doesn't know, so he respects Roger although he still doesn't see Roger as a father figure.
Well, Roger never appeared in his life, so Ace can't get any fatherly love directly from Roger. That's why he still sees Whitebeard as a father figure even though he acknowledges Roger as his father now. Roger is his biological father, but Whitebeard is his Dad, the one he thinks of as a father figure.
Though he doesn't see Roger as a father figure and doesn't love Roger that much, Ace still can't let other people take Oro Jackson. It's not about legacy or heritage from father to son. Ace just knows that many of those who are eyeing Oro Jackson don't deserve the ship.
Besides, as a pirate, he surely can't ignore such a great treasure. Also, his alliance agrees that they need to join this competition because it's a great opportunity. They have heard that Legend Pirates are also participating, so it's a good chance to defeat Legend Pirates.
There will be many people who target the Legend Pirates and they can use it to their benefit. Though there is a danger of them being targeted by many people too. However, powerful crews like Legend Pirates will be targeted first because they are the greatest threats and need to be eliminated first, so almost everyone will attack the big powerful crews.
The young pirates' alliance leaves Wano and goes to Clownland quickly. They can't be late, so they move at full speed. Their ships are very fast, faster than they've ever been. It's because they have upgraded their ships.
These ships have been improved by Franky and Tom who moved to Wano after Buggy saved the execution years ago. Tom has done a lot of things in Wano over the years like managing a big shipbuilder company that Clown Pirates built in Wano.
He also built a train transportation system in Wano that made traveling very easy in this big country. Although he still can't build a sea train system because the sea here is much more violent than Paradise.
Water 7's Aqua Laguna is nothing compared to the New World's sea phenomenon. So there are a lot more things to consider for Tom to build the Sea Train here than in Water 7. After all, he can't just think about the sea, but the people too as there are many dangerous people who might cause trouble for the Sea Train when it operates.
Anyway, the young pirates alliance's ships have become much better now. Even Thousand Sunny has been improved by Franky after getting some advice from Tom. It now can move faster even without using the machines too.
On their way to Clownland, they receive news about Clown Pirates increasing the prize for the competition. Buggy adds Big Mom's Soul Soul Fruit he got some time ago and Shiki's swords, Oto & Kogarashi. All for the winner to grab.
Items from Legendary Pirates are surely very attractive. Buggy wanted to use some mythical zoan fruits, but realized these things are more enticing. His choice is correct because now many more people are coming to Clownland, attracted by the items of legendary pirates.
However, because of the massive amount of people who come to Clownland, they need to increase their personnel to maintain order. They don't care if these people kill each other before the competition, but they can't let these people hurt the workers here or destroy the property.
So the Clown Fleet themselves are patrolling the whole island. It includes Charlotte Pirates and even Legend Pirates that are still part of Clown Fleet. They don't stop the fights between competitors, but they stop anyone who tries to hurt their people or damage their properties.
Of course, they can't prevent every damage, so they charge those who break things. But these guys are pirates and they obviously don't want to pay for the damage they cause. So the 'securities' are using force to take the compensation.
2 days before the competition starts, Red Hair Pirates arrive at Clownland. Their arrival causes a big commotion all over the island. After all, one of the Emperors of The Sea is here to compete with them for those treasures.
Now no one is fighting again because their target switched to Red Hair Pirates. They know they need to save their power and will even need to work with others to get rid of Red Hair Pirates first or else their chance to win will be slim to none.
Shanks is looking for Buggy right away, but can't find him at all. The Clown Pirates' men also keep silent and don't tell him anything about Buggy's whereabouts. So Shanks can only wait until the competition starts because he knows Buggy will appear at that time.
Then, the day before the competition, the Straw Hat alliance arrives. They become the center of attention too because they are very infamous. It's more so for Ace because everyone knows he is Roger's son, so there have been many talks about his participation.
Ace also wants to look for Buggy to ask about the purpose of using Oro Jackson as a prize. He can't understand why Buggy does this when Buggy respects Roger so much. But just like Shanks, he can't find Buggy and needs to wait until the competition starts.
It's not just the Straw Hat alliance that became the center of attention that day. Kid Alliance also arrives on the same day and gets the same stares as them. So now all the characters of the Worst Generation are here to fight and this is something that Buggy wants.
Many fights break while waiting for the competition to start, but it gets calmer on the competition day. Then finally, the competition is about to start. Everyone is called to gather in front of Clown Castle by the MC who is none other than the living skeleton Brook.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiasm to participate in this small event that we hold for the first time. As you know, we are holding a competition with some great rewards. Big Mom's Soul Soul Fruit, Golden Lion's swords, and the greatest of all, Roger Pirates' ship, ORO JACKSON!"
Suddenly, a video with the Oro Jackson picture in it is played on the massive screen behind Brook who stands on a big & tall stage in front of the castle. Everyone is stunned to see the ship even though it's just a picture. Shanks frowns while watching from inside a building because it's really Oro Jackson.
However, people start to realize that ship is not on Clownland because of the landmark behind the ship. There is a massive skull-like structure behind the ship and there is only one place that has that structure, Hachinosu.
"As you can see, that skull is so big. I wonder if it was made for me, the living skeleton Brook, YOHOHOHO! SKULL JOKE!"
People are not laughing.
".... Cough, anyway, as you can see, the Oro Jackson is currently not in Clownland. It is on the island called Pirates' Paradise, Hachinosu Island. You might be wondering, why is the ship there? The answer is... dun dudun~, because the competition won't be held here, YOHOHOHO!"
Now people start shouting and protesting.
"O-oh no, calm down, calm down! I didn't say the competition won't be held, just that it won't be held here. I'll explain immediately now. The competition is a race. Whoever reaches Hachinosu first and takes the ship will get it. The devil fruit and swords are on the ship too, so winner gets all. Simple, right?"
Brook grins mischievously even though it doesn't look that way because he doesn't have lips. But it shows that this competition isn't as simple as he said.
________________________________________
You can read more chapters ahead of my fanfics and more pictures on my Pa_treon page if you are interested.
Voting for this book is highly appreciate. Cover image is the MC, artist's ig: @fatmaqn_
I've uploaded Chapter 556. Brook's Game
- Pictures of both stories (ex: bounty poster & magazine cover) by /CaptMermain
(the web didn't use _underscore_, it's to avoid censorship)